neurosis

[ noo-roh-sis, nyoo- ]

/ nʊˈroʊ sɪs, nyʊ- /

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See synonyms for: neurosis / neuroses on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural neu·ro·ses

[noo-roh-seez, nyoo-]. /nʊˈroʊ siz, nyʊ-/. Psychiatry.

Also called psychoneurosis. a functional disorder in which feelings of anxiety, obsessional thoughts, compulsive acts, and physical complaints without objective evidence of disease, in various degrees and patterns, dominate the personality.

a relatively mild personality disorder typified by excessive anxiety or indecision and a degree of social or interpersonal maladjustment.

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Origin of neurosis

From New Latin, dating back to 1770–80; see origin at neur-, -osis

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use neurosis in a sentence

Brooks: I like people with big talents and small neuroses—not always an easy combination to find.
Mel Brooks Is Always Funny and Often Wise in This 1975 Playboy Interview|Alex Belth|February 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From a novel of Brooklyn neuroses to what happens when evangelicals take over an Alaskan national park.
This Week’s Hot Reads, July 15, 2013|Sarah Stodola, Jen Vafidis, Damaris Colhoun|July 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Would you use the same expression to describe male writers who suffer from neuroses or mental illnesses?
Interview: ‘Heroines’ Author Kate Zambreno|Michele Filgate|November 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
To a surprising extent, these comics spoke to the personal neuroses of the deeply strange men who drew them.
The Innate Conservatism of Comics: ‘Marvel Comics: The Untold Story’ by Sean Howe|Tim Marchman|October 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST

He would always say that a good relationship is just a pairing of neuroses.
Ellen Barkin on 'Another Happy Day,' Sam Levinson, and Being a 'Broad'|Kevin Sessums|November 16, 2011|DAILY BEAST
It is delayed in most organic diseases of the stomach, especially in dilatation and carcinoma, but not in neuroses.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Neuroses centrorum sexualium sensibiles aut motoriae esse possunt, et neuroses motoriae quandoque impotentiam creant.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine|Austin Malley
Psycho-neuroses may occur in connection with sensory or motor nerves.
Psychotherapy|James J. Walsh
Textbooks of the older kind solemnly described syndromes, psychoses, neuroses that simply couldn't be found in the real world!
The Syndic|C.M. Kornbluth
Justifiable attempts have also been made to turn this antagonism between neuroses and group formation to therapeutic account.
Group Psychology and The Analysis of The Ego|Sigmund Freud

British Dictionary definitions for neurosis

neurosis

/ (njʊˈrəʊsɪs) /

noun plural -ses (-siːz)

a relatively mild mental disorder, characterized by symptoms such as hysteria, anxiety, depression, or obsessive behaviourAlso called: psychoneurosis

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for neurosis

neurosis

[ nu-rō′sĭs ]

A psychological state characterized by excessive anxiety or insecurity without evidence of neurologic or other organic disease, sometimes accompanied by defensive or immature behaviors. This term is no longer used in psychiatric diagnosis.

Cultural definitions for neurosis

neurosis

[ (noo-roh-sis, nyoo-roh-sis) ]

A mental disorder marked by anxiety or fear. Neurosis is less severe than psychosis. (See also angst, hysteria, and phobia.)

notes for neurosis

In popular usage, a “neurotic” is anyone who worries a lot.

neurosis

Origin of neurosis

Words related to neurosis

How to use neurosis in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for neurosis

Scientific definitions for neurosis

Cultural definitions for neurosis

notes for neurosis